Ned turned to the prisoner with a smile on his face.
“What would you suggest?” he asked.
“Gee! You’ve got your nerve,” Jimmie exclaimed. “Leave it to him an’ you’ll fill his pocket with yellow ones an’ turn him loose to carve you up.”
“If you release me,” the captive replied, evidently taking the question in good faith, “I’ll leave the country.”
“Is that on the square?” demanded Jimmie, with a grin at Ned.
“There is a condition, however,” the man added, “and that is that you make it appear that I was killed in defending the house.”
“What’s the answer?” asked Jimmie, while Ned stood by wondering if he had not struck a lead of good luck at last.
“I’m sick of the game,” the prisoner replied. “I’m not in it for money, anyway, and the other motive is no longer of avail to me.”
“If you’ll tell me everything you know concerning this plot against the Gatun dam,” Ned said, “I’ll release you after the case is ended.”
“Not a word,” replied the other, closing his lips tightly, as if to shut back words seeking utterance.